Graphical Travel System for the Internet

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface for a travel system allows the beginning and end points to be selected, and then displays a line indicating the travel, and calculates fares.

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/683,417 filedMar. 7, 2007, which is a continuation Ser. No. 09/514,053 filed Feb. 25,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,494.

BACKGROUND

Organized travel systems often have multiple different fares forallowing travel from point A to point B. The major airlines haveliterally thousands of different fares; each with certain restrictionsand certain requirements. Moreover, each different airline may charge adifferent amount for the same trip.

Many internet travel systems store a database with each of the differentfares available from each of the different airlines. The lowest fare canbe found by searching each of these multiple records. With a high-powercomputer, the thousands of different fares can be searched relativelyefficiently.

SUMMARY

The present application teaches a way of setting travel plans over aremote information server such as the Internet, using a graphicalinterface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the graphical user interface used toselect a trip;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of operation;

FIG. 1B shows a display of a trip and a line representing stopovers;

FIG. 1C shows a display of trip versus optimal trip;

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of another embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of other operations; and

FIG. 5 shows a basic network architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect of this disclosure, the user's route is selectedusing a graphical user interface. The user can select a radius withinwhich their route can begin or end. The user can also select theirdesired travel dates using a graphical interface. The user can alsoselect a range within which their travel can begin and end. The travelsystem uses the information entered via this user interface to displaythe best fares.

The user's actual travel route can be displayed as compared with theoptimum route as shown in FIG. 1C. In this way, the user can see how farout of the way the connections will actually take them. A graph showingthe user's connections as compared with best worst and other connectionscan also be displayed. The display can also display prices and times forthe other routes.

According to another aspect, this system also allows selectingalternative forms of travel. For example, for a trip from New York toSan Diego, one acceptable form of travel could be a flight to a LosAngeles and bus rental car or train to San Diego. The entire travelpackage is secured for the one price.

A user's login and travel profile is stored as a function of theirbiometric information. For example, the user's left thumb print is usedas an identification of the user. In this way, any user can use any oneof a number of different remote terminals. The user's profile can bestored in a central computer, and retrieved from that central computerresponsive to recognition of the biometric information. This preventsthe user from entering their data each time they log on to a new system.One aspect of the invention couples this with a personal identificationnumber known only to the user. The personal identification number can beentered via a keyboard, or can actually be a sequence of differentbiometric parts.

The present application describes operations that are carried out over aremote information server such as the Internet.

The basic hardware forming the basic setup of the present invention hasis shown in FIG. 5. A server computer 500, at a central location, storesa database of information, as well as a user interface program, and amain program which can run a network interfacing program, such as a webbrowser. The server computer 500 is connected to a network 510, whichconnects the server 500 to a plurality of client computers. The networkcan be the Internet, or can be any other network that allows an exchangeof information. For example, in one embodiment, the network 510 may be adedicated dial-up or LAN network. The network comprises at least aninformation line, and a router 530. The information line 510 can be atelephone line and the router 530 can include the internet backbone, forexample. The server computer 500 runs the routines that are describedherein.

Many client computers can be connected to the server. Client 520 isshown at a remote location.

The client computer can be any computer which is capable of running anetwork interfacing program such as a web browser. In addition, theclient computer can have various peripherals attached thereto. Theseperipherals can include, for example, a camera.

In operation, each of the client computers is driven to run thespecified routine under control of the server 100.

The specified routines run by both the client and server computers areshown herein. It should be understood, however, that multiple clientcomputers could simultaneously operate. When this happens, this clientpart of the routine may have multiple clients requesting informationfrom the same server. Any multitasking system can be used to handlethese requests.

The functions described herein can be effected in any coding system,including HTML, Java, or C++. The code that is produced is thendisplayed on a user's remote (“client”) terminal. In this embodiment,the image on the client terminal provides a graphical user interfacefrom which trip selections are selected.

FIG. 1 shows a view of the graphical user interface of the main menu ofthis system. Preferably, each of the views are stored in the server anddownloaded to the client computer in the background, and stored in theclient computer's cache, to reduce any delays attributable to loading.

In operation, the user on a client first logs into the server, eitherusing a standard login technique, or by using one of the specializedtechniques described in the later embodiments. After logging into theserver, the user may be provided with a list of options which caninclude “book a passage”, “book a hotel”, etc.

FIG. 1A shows an image of the entire United States that is loaded as themain screen, relative to selecting the “book a passage”. This mainscreen can be displayed in relatively low resolution, since it will beused to create the virtual environment of the flight. This image will beused for booking a flight within the United States. However, the mainscreen could encompass a desired geographical area.

The image is a hyperlinked image. The major geographical areas on theimage are shown as being identified. Here, these locations include LosAngeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Miami, andDenver. The screen shows the airport abbreviations. Also, when the userplaces their cursor over a part of the image, a screen tip appearsindicating more details about the area based on the hyperlink that wouldbe selected if that area of the screen was selected.

Therefore, in areas like Texas, the user may place their cursor over aportion of Texas. The screen tip “Dallas Metro Area” appears. Clickingthat area can select Dallas Metro Airport.

To plan a trip, the user first clicks on a location of their approximatestarting point, and then the approximate end point. The beginning point119 and end points 129 are communicated to the remote information servercomputer at step 200. The remote information server forms an image of aline between those points. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, showing astraight line between San Diego and Washington D.C.

Next, at step 215, the user can expand the allowable geographical area.For example, the part at the San Diego end can be expanded to a largervariable radius. The outer radius 120, as shown in FIG. 1 incorporatesnot only San Diego airport, but also Carlsbad, and Orange County. Theeven larger outer radius 122 encompasses Los Angeles airport. At theending point, the user can pull the circle wide enough to incorporateBaltimore (radius 130), or even wider to include Richmond andPhiladelphia (radius 132). This expansion of markets operation step isof course optional—alternately the user can use the specificgeographical markets that the user has selected.

At step 220, the user selects dates. A first departure calendar 155 isdisplayed near the point of origin. Another return calendar 159 isdisplayed near the destination.

Analogously, for multiple destination trips, the system displaysmultiple lines for the flight legs as shown in FIG. 1B, and multiplecalendars 160, 162, 164. The user selects dates from each of thecalendars. The server highlights those dates on the respectivecalendars.

At step 230, the user can also drag the cursor along multiple dates onthe calendars to provide a range of dates. For example, the range inFIG. 1A shows departing between November 19^(th) and 21^(st), each ofwhich are illustrated as highlighted on the calendar.

When the routes and dates are completed, the user executes the operationby actuating the “Price this Trip” button 156. At 235, the “price trip”is detected, and the selected parameters are then sent to the servercomputer over the remote information connection at 240. Those parameterscan include identification of the starting point, including each airportwithin the radius selected, each of the possible start dates, andanalogous information for each of the destinations. Each of thecombinations from the possibilities is arranged into a matrix form, sothat each of the groups of possibilities can be formed. The servercomputer searches fares on each of the multiple permuations of the itemsin the set at 245. The results can be sorted by any desired criteria,e.g. by airline, by best price, by most direct route, or by shortestflight time.

The user can select any one of these flights and request purchase of theflight. Once purchased, the flight is stored in an itinerary, asconventional in an Internet based travel agent.

A second mode of this application also takes advantage of the airlinerunning a special fare into a specified market, that is not run intoother markets that are very close to that specified market. For example,it may be much cheaper to fly into Tampa, Fla., than it is to fly intoOrlando. Orlando is only two hours away from Tampa by car. Similarly, itmay be much cheaper to fly into Philadelphia than to Washington D.C.This second mode preferably operates with a binding auction system. In abinding auction system, a user indicates where they want to go and makesan offer of how much they want to pay. They also present paymentinformation such as a credit card.

If the offer is accepted, then the credit card is automatically chargedand the ticket is automatically issued. Once is the offer is made, theuser has no chance to decline the offer if accepted. The user's offer isbinding if accepted.

The airlines have used this technique to sell their surplus tickets.Typically the airlines will not sell the tickets for less than somespecified amount. However, this enables the airlines to dispose of seatsthat remain on any airplane, to sell tickets at less than the publishedprice. This does not change the published fare base, since the sale ofthe specified ticket may not qualify as not a published fare.

According to this model, even further flexibility in the system isprovided. The present model provides a package of more then one travelitem into a binding fare package. The binding fare model operates asfollows and as shown in FIG. 3.

The user signifies their desire to travel from a starting point, e.g.Washington D.C., to a destination point for example San Diego. Thisselecting can use the FIG. 1 user interface. The information is obtainedin the server as shown in 300. At 305, the user specifies the maximumnumber of transportation changes that are allowable. Each time the userneeds to leave their seat and enter a new vehicle comprises onetransportation change. So, for example, changing planes can constituteone transportation change, and going from plane to bus can constituteanother transportation change. The user also gets the option ofindicating, for example, how many plane changes they will accept, andwhether they will accept a transfer on ground transportation, e.g. fromtrain to bus. The user enters a maximum price they are willing to payfor the trip at step 310. Payment information is entered at 315. At step325 the server echoes the information, and sends it back at 330. Theuser is asked, “Are you sure that you want to do this?” at 335 If so,the information is transmitted again at 335. Once the user accepts theinformation, they become obligated to take the trip if the trip can befound for that price.

The server operates using a similar model to the other binding offersystems. However, the operation proceeds with additional variables. Eachgeographic location is broken down into not only that location, but alsoother locations which can be accessed via ground transportation forexample. Therefore, the system may check flights into Philadelphia aswell as checking flights into the Washington D.C. area. If a flight intoPhiladelphia is found the generally meets the price parameters, thesystem checks ground transportation options to see if it can package aflight option with a ground transportation option. If so, thecombination is booked, and the credit card is automatically charged forthe combination.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative of the above which carries out the samemultiple-operation-packaging system for use with airlines and hotels.The user decides what they want to pay not only for the transport, butalso for their lodging during the trip. The user selects the criteria,including the start/destination at 400 number of stops and changes 402,if air to ground is ok 404, and the quality of hotel at 406. Forexample, the quality of hotel can be selected by the number of stars.Locations of the hotel are selected at 405. One way of selecting thismay be to enter an address, and specify a radius around that address inwhich they will accept the hotel. Another way of specifying the desiredhotel is to enter the city at 408. The server responds at 410 bydisplaying a map to the user at step 520. The user selects variousneighborhoods 414 on the map. Each selection changes a color of theselected area. In this way the user can select a number of differentareas.

In this system, the user is also given an option to exclude certainthings. For example, user's idiosyncrasy based on good and badexperiences may play into what they are willing to do. For example auser may not be willing to stay in a Holiday Inn. Step 418 specifiesentering exclusion criteria. The exclusion criteria can be any word inthe name of the hotel, can be a specified hotel chain, or other. Thereturned and booked trip will therefore only be acceptable if it doesnot include this exclusion criteria.

When all information is finished the user can actuate the accept buttonto accept all the different alternatives and send that information tothe server at 430.

The server accepts this information at 435, and attempts to find apackage meeting the criteria. It if does, a package is returned at 440.If not, a decline or counter offer is returned at 440.

Other embodiments are contemplated.

1. A system comprising: a client computer, having a cursor movingelement, and an actuator that is actuated to select a current positionof said cursor moving element, said client computer including aconnection to a network, said client computer running a program whichproduces a graphical user interface using information received over saidconnection, said graphical user interface allowing entry of a desiredstarting area for travel, and a desired ending area for said travel,said program displaying information indicative of travel options betweenthe selected starting area and ending area, wherein said program furtherallows and controls at least one of said starting area or said endingarea to be changed in size to form a changed in size area, by using saidcursor moving element to select a size of said at least one of said atleast one of said starting area or said ending area, and wherein saidinformation that is displayed includes information about said changed insize area, and includes options for different locations within saidchanged in size area.
 2. A system as in claim 1, wherein, said graphicaluser interface displaying a map of an area within which the travel willoccur, and allowing said starting area for said travel to be selectedwithin said area by using said cursor moving element to place a cursorof the graphical user interface over said starting area, and actuatingto select said starting area, and allowing said ending area for saidtravel to be selected by using said cursor moving element to place thecursor of the graphical user interface over said ending area, andactuating to indicate said ending area.
 3. A system as in claim 2,wherein said client computer displays an image of a line extendingbetween said starting point and said ending point, overlaid on said map.4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said line includes an indication of astopping point between said beginning point and said ending point.
 5. Asystem as in claim 1, wherein said starting area and ending area includeinformation about airports within said areas, and said change in size isoperative to add or subtract airports within said areas.
 6. A system asin claim 1, wherein said client computer also displays information abouthow much the trip deviates compared with an optimum route from saidstarting area to said ending area.
 7. A system as in claim 1, furthercomprising a memory storing a travel itinerary on the server computer,and a biometric information entry device at the client computer, whichallows entering biometric information that is used to access a storedtravel itinerary from the client computer.
 8. A system, comprising: aclient computer, having a processor that is programmed to display agraphical user interface, displaying a hyperlinked image includinghyperlinks for a plurality of airports which airports can form begin andend points of a trip, and said client computer including a movableelement which is movable over said hyperlinked image, and said movableelement is actuated to select an area of said hyperlinked imageincluding at least one airport, and said movable element being variableto change a number of said airports which are included within said area,and said movable element permitting selection of said area as said beginand/or end point of the trip.
 9. A system as in claim 8, wherein saidprocessor in said client computer is programmed to display a screen tipincluding additional information, which is additional to the informationincluded on said hyperlinked image, about at least one of said pluralityof airports.
 10. A system as in claim 8, wherein said processor in saidclient computer is operative to determine a matrix of flights betweenall airports within an area for said begin point and all airports withinan area for said end point, where there is more than one airport withinat least one of the beginning or end points.
 11. A system as in claim 8,wherein said processor in said client computer is operative to determinean optimal flying route between said begin point and said end point, anddisplay an actual selected flying route relative to said optimal flyingroute.
 12. A system as in claim 11, wherein said processor is furtheroperative to determine a deviation between the optimal flying route andsaid selected flying route.
 13. A system as in claim 8, furthercomprising a biometric information reader associated with said clientcomputer, wherein said processor controls said client computer controlsobtaining said biometric information, and said server computer storestravel information about individuals that is associated with biometricinformation about the individuals, and returns said travel informationto said client computer based on biometric information sent from saidclient computer.
 14. A system as in claim 8, further comprising allowinga user to make a binding offer, including payment information, for anyof plural airline routes between any of said begin points, and any ofsaid end points, where there are more than one airport within at leastone of the beginning points or end points.
 15. A system as in claim 8,wherein said program sends information indicative of both said startingarea and said ending area over a network to a server, and receivestravel information over said network indicative of travel optionsbetween the selected starting area and ending area said travelinformation.
 16. A system as in claim 8, wherein said hyperlinked imageis based on information received from a server computer.
 17. A systemcomprising: a server computer, including a connection to a network, saidserver computer running a program which receives information indicativeof movement of a cursor of a graphical user interface from a remotecomputer, and uses said information to establish a desired starting areafor travel, and a desired ending area for said travel, said programdetermining information indicative of travel options between theselected starting area and ending area; wherein said program on saidserver computer further receives information about a changed in sizearea adjacent to at least one of said starting area or said ending areato form a changed in size area, and displays information about saidchanged in size area, and producing output information that includesoptions for travel between different locations within said changed insize area.
 18. A system as in claim 17, wherein said server clientcomputer producing information that will display a map of an area withinwhich the travel will occur, and receiving information indicative ofsaid starting area for said travel having been selected within saidgraphical user interface, and receiving information indicative of saidending area having been selected within said graphical user interface,wherein said changed in size area is shown on said map.
 19. A system asin claim 18, wherein said server computer produces information that isindicative of display of an image of a line extending between saidstarting point and said ending point, overlaid on said map.
 20. A systemas in claim 17, wherein said starting area and ending area includeinformation about airports within said areas, and said change in sizeadds or subtracts airports within said areas.
 21. A system as in claim17, wherein said server computer also displays information about howmuch a selected trip deviates compared with an optimum route from saidstarting area to said ending area.
 22. A system as in claim 21, whereinsaid amount of deviation includes information about travel times ofdifferent routes.
 23. A system as in claim 17, further comprising amemory storing a travel itinerary on the server computer.
 24. A systemas in claim 22, wherein said server computer receives biometricinformation and uses said biometric information to access a storedtravel itinerary.
 25. A system as in claim 17, further comprising aclient computer connected to said network, said client computerdisplaying said options for travel.
 26. A system, comprising: a servercomputer, producing information to display a graphical user interface,said information including that includes a hyperlinked image includinghyperlinks for a plurality of airports, where said airports can formbegin and end points of a trip, and said server computer receivesinformation from a movable element which is movable over saidhyperlinked image and which is actuated to select an area of saidhyperlinked image including at least one airport, and said informationfrom said movable element being variable to change a number of saidairports which are included within said area, and said movable elementpermitting selection of said area as said begin and/or end point of thetrip.
 27. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server computer alsosends different trip options for trips between said beginning and endpoints.
 28. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server providesinformation to display a screen tip including additional informationwhich is additional to the information included on said hyperlinkedimage, said screen tip including information about at least one of saidplurality of airports.
 29. A system as in claim 26, wherein said serveris operative to determine a flights between airports within an area forsaid begin point and airports within an area for said end point, wherethere is more than one airport within at least one of the beginning orend points.
 30. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server isoperative to determine an optimal flying route between said begin pointand said end point, and produce information that displays an actualselected flying route relative to said optimal flying route.
 31. Asystem as in claim 30, wherein said server is further operative todetermine a deviation between the optimal flying route and said selectedflying route and produce information that displays said information. 32.A system as in claim 26, wherein said server computer stores travelinformation about individuals that is associated with biometricinformation about the individuals, and accesses travel information basedon receiving biometric information.
 33. A system as in claim 26, furthercomprising allowing a user to make a binding offer, including paymentinformation, for any of plural airline routes between any of said beginpoints, and any of said end points, where there are more than oneairport within at least one of the beginning points or end points.